3 myths about getting into Product Management
Today I want to share the three biggest myths I see hanging around the community of aspiring product managers.
Myth # 1: I need to have technical skills to become a Product Manager, so I need to learn how to code.
Reality: Coming from a technical background is not a prerequisite anymore.
Yes, some companies historically prefer to hire Product Managers with technical backgrounds and degrees in Computer Science. However, others (and this number is growing steadily) look for candidates with "non-traditional" backgrounds - from journalism, art, fashion, law, and many more.
I recall my conversation with the head of the recruitment team at one of the leading tech giants in South East Asia. Their product organization has over a hundred employees distributed across several countries. She told me that one of the key elements of their hiring strategy is to find people of different backgrounds who can bring a diversity of opinions and new perspectives to their products.
It is a very logical and far-seeing approach to hiring. Product Managers are directly involved in making core strategic growth-driving decisions. And to do so, they need to be strong at a great variety of non-tech skills such as business and people skills.
Myth # 2: I need to complete my MBA to get into product management.
Reality: Getting an MBA is neither a prerequisite nor a guarantee to get a PM job.
MBA is one of those strategic projects you can do once in a lifetime and that you need to plan very carefully. It's a huge investment - both in your time and money - so you have to have crystal clear answers on why you are doing the program and your expectations. Lastly, an MBA degree pays off more in the long run, so please don't expect immediate results just after the program. Moreover, you may find yourself falling behind your peers since you were out of the workforce for one or two years.
If you are now thinking of doing an MBA with the ultimate goal of getting into a Product role, please stop and consider other strategies first. You can get there much faster, and this guide gives you plenty of proven strategies on how to make a move. Yes, I know you see those magical words in many job descriptions for product roles - "MBA candidates preferred" - but believe me, this is not a must-have requirement. With MBA or not, you will have to answer questions about your experience and challenges solved (or products built).
I remember my first interviews for product roles after graduating from an MBA program in 2017. Of course, my hiring managers wanted to know about my experience building products, failures, and success stories in the first place. Yes, my MBA degree probably gave me some extra points, but I'm confident that I wouldn't be able to get a job without having previous experience building products.
Myth # 3: I need to have a product certification to get into product management.
Reality: It doesn't matter what kind of certification you have. What matters the most is that you can answer the question "Show me what you have built" from your hiring managers.
Certification can be a great way to prove your skills and receive recognition in the professional community. Sometimes, it's mandatory to be allowed to do a job or get a career promotion.
However, there is no requirement for aspiring PMs to have any certification to enter or transition to a career in Product. But surprisingly, one of the first things people ask when they start researching how to get into Product is what kind of certification they need to get to the role. Unfortunately, it seems like many aspiring PMs treat certification as a "magic pill" that can quickly solve their problem and get guaranteed results.
I know that I'm repeating myself, but let me reiterate one more time this very important point - conceptual knowledge alone won't count when it comes to the product manager role. Unless a certification program doesn't have a substantial practical part for you to apply theories, frameworks, and tools, you won't be able to build a convincing story during job interviews and will be struggling to do your job.
So please don't fall in love with any particular certification program as an ultimate and only solution to bring you to the Product world. Practice is the key, so focus heavily on applying theories to create or improve things - with or without a certification program.
💬 If you have any questions, just drop me an email